Police have arrested and charged a cash-for-gold operator.
Thirty-year-old Andre Glenfield Payne, the owner of Brooklyn’s Finest on Roebuck Street, appeared in the District “A” Magistrate’s Court today, for the offence of engaging in a business transaction as a precious metals dealer, without a licence.
When Payne, of Lower Estate, St. George went before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to answer the charge, he was released on $20,000 bail, with one surety.
However, he has to be back in court on May 16.
The alleged transaction, which led to Payne’s arrest, occurred between February 28 and March 11 this year.
Meanwhile, the Royal Barbados Police Force has opened a register at its Roebuck Street Headquarters, where all persons and companies involved in the buying and selling of gold and scrap metals must register their businesses.
“It is required by law. They must register and this includes jewellery stores,” warned Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector David Welch.
The register will be opened from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except on public holidays.
One Bridgetown jeweller told Barbados TODAY he supported the registering of dealers in precious and second hand metals. Joseph Hughes, of Pinnacle Jewellery, said his store had been cooperating with the authorities as far as the cash for gold was concerned for over a year now, and the measure which helped to regulate the current situation, was something with which he was willing to comply.
“It (the illegal trade) is cause for concern and I understand why such a measure (register) would be put in place,” added Hughes, known in the calypso arena as Invader.
Responding to the announcement of the new register, owner of Bs Recycling at Cane Garden, St. Thomas, Paul Bynoe, said he was ready to register his scrap metal business with the police long ago, but was told he would have to wait.
“I am glad to register my business. Now that the register is open, I will go on Monday and register,” Bynoe assured.†(EJ)††